24th Africa-France summit - Sudan president says Darfur rebels Western-backed

Feb 16 2007 Reuters - Sudan president says Darfur rebels Western-backed - excerpt:

Speaking to the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on the sidelines of African talks in the French city of Cannes, Bashir said that instead of punishing rebels that rejected the peace deal, a United Nations resolution had put the onus on Khartoum.

"The elements that reject the agreement move with freedom in Western capitals and receive financial and military support ... and due to this support have been successful in controlling the northern section of Darfur," Bashir said. "Is this not a direct threat to Darfur and to security and peace?"

Photo: French President Jacques Chirac, left, welcomes his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. Crises in the Sudanese region of Darfur and in Guinea overshadowed the gathering of 40 heads of state and government. The leaders of Sudan, Central African Republic and Chad were likely to meet on the sidelines to discuss Darfur. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)



Photo: French President Jacques Chirac welcomes his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)



Photo: French President Jacques Chirac, left, welcomes his Central African Republic counterpart Francois Bozize at the opening of the 24th Africa-France summit, Thursday Feb.15, 2007 in Cannes, southern France. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik; Pool)

Feb 15 2007 AP report via Sudan Tribune - Chad's foreign minister says Darfur meeting "useless" - excerpt:

A source close to French President Jacques Chirac said the three countries' presidents were likely to meet at a French-African summit in the French seaside resort of Cannes.

"This same meeting is useless because it is aimed at distracting international public opinion and moving it away from the real problem, which is that Sudan is attacking Chad," said Chad's Foreign Minister Ahmat Allam-Mi.

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France says progress made in Darfur crisis

UPDATE Feb 16 2007 AP report by John Leicester - excerpt:

Looking to end the crisis in Darfur, France won agreement on Thursday from three involved African countries that they would not support armed rebel movements on each other's territories.

Sudan, Chad and Central African Republic made the commitment in a declaration signed Thursday night, on the sidelines of an African summit that France hosted in the Riviera city of Cannes.

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UPDATE People's Daily Online -- Sudanese President calls for UN support: A mini-summit, which is organized on the sidelines of the 24th France-Africa summit, ended up in the Cannes declaration on Darfur. The declaration, which was signed by Chad, Central Africa Republic and Sudan, reiterates commitment by the three countries to respect each other's sovereignty and not to support armed rebel groups in accordance with the Tripoli accord.

UN's Eliasson & AU's Salim arrive in Um Rai for a meeting with key commanders of non-signatory rebel groups to the DPA

Photo: U.N. Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson (L) and African Union Special Envoy for Darfur Salim Ahmed Salim (C) arrive in Um Rai February 14, 2007, for a meeting with key commanders of the non-signatory rebel groups to the DPA (Darfur Peace Agreement). Picture taken on February 14, 2007. REUTERS/Tim Mckulka UNMIS/Handout (SUDAN).

UPDATE: See Feb 15 2007 Sudan Tribune article - AU, UN enovys say security and aid needed in Darfur before talks - for near verbatim transcript of the opening remarks of UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy Jan Eliasson for Darfur and African Union Special Envoy for Darfur Salim Ahmed Salim made during the Joint Press Conference they held on 15 February 2007 at UNMIS Press Briefing Room, Ramsis Building - Khartoum.

Telegraph's David Blair may be related to family who adopted Tony Blair's dad

Snippet from David Blair's blog entry Feb 15 - Rest assured - we're not related:

My understanding is that the Prime Minister's father was adopted by a family called Blair, and so he took their name and passed it on to his son.

But for this quirk of fate, the Prime Minister would have a different surname. It's just about possible that I might be distantly related to the family who adopted Blair's dad, but not to the man himself.

If any of you were curious, I hope this sets your mind at rest.

I didn't know Tony Blair's father was adopted. I'd like to see an experienced Africa correspondent like David Blair interview PM Blair about what he thinks of Sudanese rebel groups operating out of Europe and the UK. Who is behind them? How are they funded? Who buys and plants landmines in South Sudan and Darfur in Western Sudan? Horrible. Murky. Shudder.

Chad may face genocide, UN warns (BBC)

From the BBC: Chad may face genocide, UN warns 16 Feb 2007:

Eastern Chad and Darfur have a similar ethnic make-up, with nomadic Arab groups and black African farmers both seeking access to land and scarce water points.

Our reporter says the violence in Chad follows the same pattern as in Darfur - mostly Arabs on camels and horseback attacking non-Arab villages.

I wonder how the reporter can tell who is Arab or non-Arab.

European commissioner regrets inaction by Sudan on U.N. plan

"We don't see any positive moves by Bashir," said Louis Michel, EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid.

"The time to deliver is now," Michel told reporters at European Commission headquarters. - AP 13 Feb 2007 via IHT.

UNMIS calls for resumption of aid around Tawila N. Darfur - 110,000 people displaced from Deribat, S. Darfur - UN, AU envoys arrive in Khartoum

UN News Center press release 12 Feb 2007 via HDA - excerpt:

As the envoys are visiting Sudan, the Secretary-General's Acting Special Representative to the country, Taye-Brook Zerihoun, is travelling to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to participate in the AU meeting on Sudan and Chad.

A separate UN Human Rights Council fact-finding team is also in the region, travelling to Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Darfur to evaluate the situation.

The high-level mission has been tasked with assessing human rights in Darfur.

Meanwhile, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) reported today that fresh violence in South Darfur since December has displaced at least 110,000 people from the area around Deribat.

In North Darfur, the Mission called for the resumption of humanitarian operations around Tawila, which had been vacated by UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) because of recent instability.

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Feb 13 2007 Middle East Online report - Several killed in Darfur clashes - excerpt:

According to one official cited by the Al-Rai Al-Aam newspaper, 11 people were killed and nine wounded in the fighting in southern Darfur between an unidentified armed group and members of the Abala tribe.

Two other papers, Assahafa and Rai al-Shaab said five people died and 15 were wounded and quoted another official as saying the clashes were between rival tribes.

UN sends advance mission to Sudanese border (Reuters)

The United Nations is preparing to send an advance mission to the Chad-Sudan border area ahead of a possible deployment of United Nations forces there, a UN official said on Monday. - Reuters 13 Feb 2007 via Africast.

World Bank head lauds China's Africa interests after prickly words

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said China might be in a better position than more advanced economies such as the United States and European Union to deliver development expertise to Africa because of its own recent experience in bringing about rapid economic development. - dpa via jurnalo 13 Feb 2007.

Turabi urges reconciliation among the Sudanese?

Al-Turabi said heatedly "we have learned the lesson after the harm done to us by military coups". He urged political parties to wage elections through unifying ranks against Al-Bashir's ruling party, the National Congress; Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported. Full story Sudan Tribune 13 Feb 2007.

Note, the report tells us:

He said that the lack of justice domestically has brought in the International Criminal Court, adding that some influential persons fear they will meet the same fate as Serbia's rulers.

He made redressing this situation contingent on reconciliation among the Sudanese. "Reconciliation among the people of Sudan can be revived and this can supersede international courts", he said.

I wonder what Mr Turabi thinks about the janjaweed and Abyei.

Fake website about D-UNSG?

See UNSG.org - Fake website about D-UNSG?

Telegraph's Diplomatic Correspondent David Blair

The Daily Telegraph's Africa Correspondent David Blair is now the Daily Telegraph's Diplomatic Correspondent.

David also authors Telegraph Blog - excerpt:

One of the key problems that journalists face is that readers often assume they agree with people they quote in their reports. So as I begin this job, can I make one request? When I quote the allegations or opinions of others, please do not assume that I share them.

Heh. Keep on blogging David!

SPLM must seek for Sudan's Presidency in 2008 election - governor

The governor and chairman of SPLM in Eastern Equatoria state, Brig. Aloisio Emor Ojetuk said SPLM is very popular in Khartoum and also it's enjoying majority respect among southern Sudanese. Therefore, he adds, SPLM must seek for the bigger leg in the forthcoming election of 2008; "By bigger leg, I mean an SPLM member to rule the Sudan" he clarified.

Full story by Isaac Vuni via ST 7 Feb 2007.

The Birth of Africom

US President GW Bush annnounced on Tuesday he had given approval for the new command, Africom, which will be based initially in Stuttgart, Germany, but later move to an African location yet to be determined.

See ComingAnarchy.com on The Birth of Africom plus this comment posted by lirelou Feb 8, 2007:

So, Africom has been spun out of Eucom, which had planning responsibility for Africa outside of Centcom's area prior to this. They'll waste a lot of money if they move to an African location. Back in the early 80's, when we were looking to base a single (SF) battalion in Africa, the only country who showed any real interest was Somalia, which was officially Marxist. Whoever decided to forego that offer showed wisdom and/or foresight. Note that what they are doing here is creating more planning staffs, but not more troops on the ground. (What increases are planned are targeted to the GWOT and OIF) More generals, more staffs, more paper, more pressure to "prove their worth" by getting pro-active. They could have passed the mission to Southcom and saved the money. Our defence dollars need to be spent more wisely.

Iranian president to visit Sudan on 12th February

Khartoum (Sudanvisiondaily) 1 Feb 2007 - excerpt

The Sudanese Foreign Minister Dr Lam Akol met his Iranian counterpart Monjuhar Moutaki met yesterday and they discussed the bilateral relations between their two countries. Meanwhile it was announced that the Iranian President Ahmed Nijadi will visit Sudan on February 12th. The Ministry of foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ali Al-Sadig told SUNA that the two Ministers discussions stressed the bilateral relations with regard to investment, basic infrastructure and other economical projects.

(hat tip clarification of fact blog)

Map of Chinese leader's Africa tour

Black Looks has posted a graphic.

Defining the African Diaspora

Annie at Black Looks thinks the African diaspora cannot survive.

US's Natsios: "The term genocide is counter to the facts of what is really occurring in Darfur"

Feb 8 2007 report by Mariam Khan (The Georgetown Voice) Natsios describes on-going Sudanese crisis. Excerpt:

The on-going Darfur crisis is no longer a genocide situation, according to U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios. Natsios, a Professor in the School of Foreign Service, spoke on Wednesday in Gaston Hall.

Natsios did note, however, that genocide had previsouly occured in Darfur, amidst the ongoing conflict between inhabitants of the Sudanese region and government-backed Janjaweed militias.

Darfur has been a hot button issue since 2003. 2.5 million people have been displaced and over 400,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, according to Natsios.

"The place is littered with mass graves," he said. Over 2,000 villages were destroyed from the beginning of the war in 2003 to the present, according a United Nations count cited by Natsios.

Natsios pointed to property issues as a major aspect of the conflict, explaining that the Arab Janjaweed militia has been destroying homes and taking the land and animals.

"Without property in Darfur, you will die," he said. "You cannot go back to your homes because you have nothing to live off of."

Natsios called Darfur a catastrophe, but said that he is opposed to continuing to use the word genocide, which President Bush and the State Department use to describe the situation in Darfur.

"The term genocide is counter to the facts of what is really occurring in Darfur," he said.

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UPDATE: Via CFD Feb 16 2007 - Correction From The Georgetown Voice: While we stand by our account that Natsios is opposed to using the word "genocide" to continue to describe the current situation in Darfur, the article should have included a sentence stressing that Natsios still believes that, at its height, the crisis constituted a "genocide."

Ceasefire Joint Commission meets in Al Fashir for the first time - chaired by Acting Head of AMIS Madame Monique Mukaruliza

I hope this is all true. Via Sudanese Media Center:

Tuesday 6 February 2007
Khartoum (Sudanvisiondaily)

The Ceasefire Joint Commission will hold its fifth meeting today in the town of Al Fashir North Darfur for the first time following holding of former meetings in the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa. The meeting will be chaired by Acting Head of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Madame Monique Mukaruliza AMIS Spokesman Nourelddine Mezni told Sudan Vision that the commission's' meeting in Al Fashir comes in implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

According to Mezni the committee will review at its meeting in Al Fashir the report by the African Union Forces Commander and Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission Major General Aprezi on the security situation in Darfur and the ten ceasefire violations that recently took place.

Mezni was further reported to have said that the meeting of the tripartite committee for implantation of the UN support packages to AU has been adjourned from today to February 14th due to the participation of the mechanism members in the ceasefire commission meetings.

Mezni said its expected that UN Envoy to Sudan Ian Elission and the AU Envoy Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim will visit Sudan within the coming few days to reactivate the peace process in Darfur. Mezni said the date of the two envoys visit will be specified later.

Sudan's Bashir denies Chinese pressure on Darfur

Sudanese President is convinced China has never been, will never be tool for US pressure on Sudan - see Middle East Online today: Beshir denies Chinese pressure on Darfur - excerpt:

"The Chinese president did not convey any US demands on the situation in Darfur during his recent state visit to the Sudan," Beshir told the independent Al-Sudani daily.

Beshir said that during their meeting last Friday, Hu had asked him to "continue implementing the Abuja agreement and working to improve the situation on the ground".

Hu :renewed his commitment to offering full support to my government to enable it to implement its declared Darfur programme, particularly after he was briefed on our position which advocates dialogue and a peaceful settlement".

"Our conviction is that China has never been and will never be a tool for US pressure on Sudan," Beshir told Al-Sudani.

Washington -- which accuses the Sudanese regime of genocide in Darfur -- sent envoy Andrew Natsios to Beijing last month to seek increased diplomatic coordination with Khartoum's key ally.

Sudan's FVP Kiir rules out renewed war in south

KUNA news report (via ReliefWeb) 4 Feb 2007 - excerpt:

[Sudan's first VP] Mayardit emphasized that his movement believes in Sudan's volitional, rather than compulsory, unity, opining that "unity is better than separation as far as public interest is concerned." He called on all Sudanese political forces to work together to find a way out of the Sudanese crisis by means of implementing the comprehensive peace deal between south and north Sudan.

Concerning his peace initiative, he said it focused on all-out interest among the region's tribes, urging tribal leaders and Darfur dignitaries to step up efforts to make his initiative successful.